As local employees sign up for their 2013 benefits, many are learning that theyll lose a bigger chunk of their paychecks to health-care costs.

For the first time, central Ohio employers will deduct, on average, more than $2,000 from their workers paychecks next year to help pay ever-pricier health-care premiums, according to a recent survey by benefits consultant Aon Hewitt. The survey included 113 employers in the Columbus area that represent 79,000 employees.

Cost-shifting is just one way that employers have long tried to handle higher health-care costs. Local health-benefit experts say theyre seeing several other strategies emerge, too. For example, some employers are beginning to expect tangible improvements in worker health after years of emphasizing wellness programs.

There is only one good thing about this. I can’t wait to hear all the liberals who said this was such a great idea bitch, moan, and complain when they realize its not free and that they have to pay for it. What? Did they they think that the Right was going to foot the bill for them? Yeah I sort of think so. Obamacare will be the undoing of his presidency. We will get see watch the serpent eat his own tail. Popcorn anyone?

Sure Obama will get temporarily blamed for a bad situation. But most people will blame the insurance companies for charging such high rates. The only “solution” will be a takeover of the whole system by government.

Apolitical businesses will accept that because it gets the $2000-per-month monkey off their back. Obama’s moocher constituency will let the government take over because it’s basically free for them.

Because of political pressures, the personal mandate (thank you John Roberts!) that is supposed to pay for each person’s health care will likely not apply to the downtrodden (the 99 percent).

So when the mandate fails to get enough revenue, the government (rich taxpayers) will pick up the tab. The result will be full-blown socialized medicine. Dreadful quality of care, long lines, and a ginormous budget of nation-killing size.

I have a friend who has worked for years in a top management position with one of the largest defense contractors in the US. The day after the election everyone was notified that there would be changes in their insurance coverage. Basically, they will be given individual, bare bones insurance coverage. No more coverage paid for by the employer for the family. To compensate for the loss of family benefits the employee/employer will have the option to contribute to a Health Savings Account that can be used to buy insurance for the family or additional coverage for the employee. Also gone will be the life insurance benefits. The bottom line will be the employee can take it or look for a new job. My friend is in his 50’s and what choice does he have at this point in his career?

Obamacare is going to have a huge impact on middle class America and they believed everything they were told by Obama.

19
posted on 11/11/2012 6:19:29 AM PST
by not2worry
( NO MORE YEARS!!!!)

As someone who was one of many laid off by UHG last summer after the Supremes gave their blessing to Obamacare, I can only say brace yourself.

First your premiums are going up, as you noted.

Second, as people lose their insurance because they cannot afford it, the cost of health care itself will go up.

Third, your taxes will go up to pay for additional burden on the public health system.

Fourth, Medicare and then Medicaid will be decimated in an attempt to feed the beastthat was already begun with the creative accounting the administration did to try and pay for the thing.

Fifth, the increase in regulation will drive costs up even further and payments to doctors down causing many to simply abandon the profession altogether, and fewer to choose to go into medicine in the future.

Obamacare is a bad-tempered boa constrictor around the neck and torso of the American health care system and the American economy. But it is individuals who will have their ribs crushed and suffocate. The government does not operate by the code of "first do no harm." And all those people who thought they were voting for Obama to get fee health care for everyone may be surprised to learn that they will be the first to feel the pain.

20
posted on 11/11/2012 6:22:14 AM PST
by newheart
(The greatest trick the left ever pulled was convincing the world it was not a religion.)

I work for a very small company and they already pay $100,000 a year for about 18 employees that are on their insurance and we still have to pay our premium with no copay but my deductible just for myself is $6,000 before anything is covered by insurance . That’s insane.

Sure Obama will get temporarily blamed for a bad situation. But most people will blame the insurance companies for charging such high rates. The only solution will be a takeover of the whole system by government.

I believe this was the goal from the start. They couldn't get single-payer health care through the Congress right away, so they constructed this hybrid monstrosity called Obamacare. After the insurance companies go under, which they inevitably will, our "benevolent" government will step in and take over.

>>If only 38% of the people supported Obamacare how did he get elected?

Because even some liberals are smart enough to see that Obamacare is a fraud. It doesn’t create the single payer system they want. It doesn’t provide quality care to all that it promises. Even they know that it is just a means to move money out of the economy and into the pockets of insurance companies so that it can disappear.

Our economy is a slave to the bankers of the Federal Reserve and the only way you can shovel billions in at the Fed (so those bankers can profit) and keep inflation under control is to have outlets for making that cash disappear so consumers can’t use it.

You think that Obama’s second term means that we’ll be enslaved?? No. It will just make public what has been reality for a long time—under BOTH parties.

I barely remember what a simple ‘paycheck’ even was, let alone a ‘raise’. When I had the Family Business, I was on a monthly check schedule, but didn’t take a payroll check for 9mos of 2009, and all of 2010 & 2011; all the other bills got paid, and I lived off my remaining savings, unless the Business needed it.

PA Commonwealth Law prohibits owners/officers/stockholders of Sub-S Corps from receiving any UC (unemployment comp), so in 21yrs, I was never eligible, although I paid-in many, many tens-of-thousands to the UC fund. What a bunch of crap that is. If I could have invested all that $ paid-in, at just 5%, I would have had a nice retirement fund. I got *bupkis*.

Such is the lot for most small business owners: us always last, if at all. When I saw all of the red ink coming in 3rd Qtr 2011, I pulled the plug. All bills were paid; no creditors were stiffed. It was painful to let 28 people go, but I gave 4 wks notice. All found jobs.

The Ag/Hort Business-Industry is being squeezed to death by AgriBusiness and Gov’t intrusion and interference. In a few years, it’ll be mostly gone from America as thousands go out of business each year.

34
posted on 11/11/2012 9:47:58 AM PST
by carriage_hill
(America - a great idea while it lasted.)

Just wondering if the extra cost that is being paid is to cover those whom do not have to pay for their healthcare. keep in mind the elderly and disabled do pay for their healthcare premiums per month for Medicare. the supplemental is to be paid for by the same. Not it is the free loaders whom get title 19 Medicaid whom get he free health care. many of whom are single mothers with children who also get Section 8 housing, food stamps and whatever else they get.

Hey I have clients that get everything and they drive around in wait for it - a brand new car. Yes a brand new car. Damn I work my backside off, push myself in a wheelchair and guess what my car is 11 years old. I sometimes hate that I have to accept Medicaid in counseling but I have to eat too and I cannot discriminate. It is sad the amount of people being deemed disabled because of mental health problems - stupidity is not a mental health problem. Depression as a severe mental health problem is joke

We just re-enrolled in my spouse’s insurance, which is self-funded through Aetna. Premiums went up 21% for medical, but there was no increase last year supposedly. We were always on my insurance prior to 2011 because I was working for a hospital and health insurance was pretty cheap, so I don’t know how much premiums were before last year. We have family coverage which includes our daughter who is in college. The deductible is 500/1000, up from 300/600, and now there’s only an 80% PPO plan and an HDHP to choose from, whereas before there was a 70% PPO plan too. I find it curious that the dental and vision premiums have stayed the same again this year. When are the lefties gonna start demanding that dental and vision care be “free” as well?

I’m so PO’d right now, I’m leaning toward the latter. But is it too over the top? Will it be counter-productive?”

********************************************

Yes.
I am keeping my mouth shut....until I can give the big “I TOLD YOU SO” and “I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR YOU” middle finger to all of the liberals out there that I secretly despise for their stupidity. Maybe use those slogans once it kicks in!

I’m so PO’d right now, I’m leaning toward the latter. But is it too over the top? Will it be counter-productive?”

********************************************

Yes.
I am keeping my mouth shut....until I can give the big “I TOLD YOU SO” and “I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR YOU” middle finger to all of the liberals out there that I secretly despise for their stupidity. Maybe use those slogans once it kicks in!

My brother worked for Goodyear for over 35 years. All benefits canceled. He just found out that an old friend, terminal with cancer, had his insurance canceled by good ole Goodyear. The man is now in a nursing home without insurance, dying. I will NEVER buy Goodyear ties again. EVER!!

45
posted on 11/11/2012 3:04:52 PM PST
by RetiredArmy
(November 6, 2012: The day the United States Republic DIED.)

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